Samsung NX300 camera switches seamlessly from 2D to 3D

Today Samsung announced the latest addition to their line of mirrorless cameras, the NX300. While it could easily get lost in Samsung’s sea of NX models, the successor to the NX200 has a few interesting features in store for the camera-buying public. One of the most notable features is that it is capable of switching from shooting 2D to 3D shooting (as well as from 2D to 3D video capture) without switching any hardware. Samsung is billing the NX300 as the “first one-lens 3D system capable of capturing both still images and full HD movies.”

Samsung covered all the necessary ground so that the NX300 would be a worthy successor to the NX200. The new NX features an upgraded CMOS sensor and an new processing engine, as well as the same excellent 3.31-inch AMOLED touch display. While it still shoots at 20.3 megapixels using an APS-C sensor, the new camera has an upgraded hybrid autofocus system that combines phase detect and contrast AF for super fast focusing (I confirmed this with a few minutes of hands-on time).

As for the other specs: the quickest shutter speed is 1/6000, the maximum ISO is 25600, video goes up to 1080p60, and the camera can handle up to an excellent 8.6 frames per second. As with the previous NX models, the NX300 is chock-full of Samsung’s smart camera features, including WiFi, app connectivity, and i-Function controls. Using apps (for both Android and iOS) the user can autoshare images to a device, activate a remote viewfinder with camera controls, pull/push images from the camera, and display a notification for firmware upgrades. While the last trick is very cool, it still can’t handle OTA upgrades — you’ll need a computer and USB connection for that.

Samsung, being a good gadget manufacturer, didn’t forget the clever additions. The NX300 is capable of charging over micro USB (a rarity among cameras) and the camera holds all manner of smart features, like automatic scene detection. So if the camera is in the right mode and it thinks an HDR shot would be ideal for the situation, it can go ahead and make the executive decision.

The most interesting part of the NX300 is the easy switching from 2D to 3D. This can only be done when the body is paired with Samsung’s new 45mm f/1.8 2D/3D lens. The lens has a built-in dual LED shutter that moves into place when the camera is put in 3D mode, enabling stereoscopic video and imaging. Two images are taken by the camera when in 3D mode, but each shot uses the full image circle so you get a full resolution file. When taking video, 60fps shooting will become a 30fps 3D file. (Video of the LED shutter in action is below.)

While most of the heavy lifting is being done by the $600 $500 lens, it will not make other NX cameras 3D — used on those models it will simply be a 2D 45mm lens. (Samsung emailed with an update — the lens will be $500).

The NX300 will sell for $750 (with a 20-50mm kit lens) when it ships in March.